The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative study
Background: It was noted that family medicine (FM) was not used properly by doctors at Letaba Hospital. Anecdotally, misconceptions and misunderstandings about FM were reported. An exploration was recommended to understand the perceptions and attitudes of doctors at Letaba Hospital with regard to FM...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2020-07-01
|
| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5034 |
| _version_ | 1811275896504451072 |
|---|---|
| author | Christian N. Saidiya Gert J.O. Marincowitz Doudou K. Nzaumvila Tombo Bongongo Indiran Govender |
| author_facet | Christian N. Saidiya Gert J.O. Marincowitz Doudou K. Nzaumvila Tombo Bongongo Indiran Govender |
| author_sort | Christian N. Saidiya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: It was noted that family medicine (FM) was not used properly by doctors at Letaba Hospital. Anecdotally, misconceptions and misunderstandings about FM were reported. An exploration was recommended to understand the perceptions and attitudes of doctors at Letaba Hospital with regard to FM. Identifying doctors’ misconceptions and the possible reasons for mistaken beliefs about FM by other specialists could offer possible solutions.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted that attempted to identify the perceptions of doctors about FM and to explore their attitudes towards this specialty.
Results: The primary findings indicate more positive than negative perceptions of other disciplines towards FM. The participants viewed FM as the centre of the healthcare system, with prevention being its core business. This includes a holistic approach, the continuity of care, being community-based, and receiving recognition as a specialty. Family medicine was described by various medical personnel as making a positive contribution to the healthcare system. They note the role of FM discipline in district hospitals, its support of primary health- care and its ability to fill the gaps in the healthcare system, including surgical skills. The few negative perceptions that were identified mostly related to the status of FM as a specialty and doctors’ level of surgical ability. Based on individual interviews, 11 themes were extracted and a ‘wheel’ model was created, depicting the core values of the FM discipline.
Conclusion: The study concluded that most participants have a positive perception of the role of FM, similar to the views of the senior staff in the discipline itself. The concerns from most participants are in the area of preventative medicine, which has not been given enough priority in South Africa and where doctors are expected to rapidly attend to long queues and manage casualties. There was also concern of a perceived lack of surgical skills. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:47:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c2522aa1d864fb69f77ec29aee0e1f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:47:05Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c2522aa1d864fb69f77ec29aee0e1f82022-12-22T03:11:50ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042020-07-01621e1e710.4102/safp.v62i1.50344061The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative studyChristian N. Saidiya0Gert J.O. Marincowitz1Doudou K. Nzaumvila2Tombo Bongongo3Indiran Govender4Department of Family Medicine Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PretoriaDepartment of Health, Limpopo, South Africa; and, Department of Family Medicine, University of LimpopoDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PretoriaDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PretoriaDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PretoriaBackground: It was noted that family medicine (FM) was not used properly by doctors at Letaba Hospital. Anecdotally, misconceptions and misunderstandings about FM were reported. An exploration was recommended to understand the perceptions and attitudes of doctors at Letaba Hospital with regard to FM. Identifying doctors’ misconceptions and the possible reasons for mistaken beliefs about FM by other specialists could offer possible solutions. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted that attempted to identify the perceptions of doctors about FM and to explore their attitudes towards this specialty. Results: The primary findings indicate more positive than negative perceptions of other disciplines towards FM. The participants viewed FM as the centre of the healthcare system, with prevention being its core business. This includes a holistic approach, the continuity of care, being community-based, and receiving recognition as a specialty. Family medicine was described by various medical personnel as making a positive contribution to the healthcare system. They note the role of FM discipline in district hospitals, its support of primary health- care and its ability to fill the gaps in the healthcare system, including surgical skills. The few negative perceptions that were identified mostly related to the status of FM as a specialty and doctors’ level of surgical ability. Based on individual interviews, 11 themes were extracted and a ‘wheel’ model was created, depicting the core values of the FM discipline. Conclusion: The study concluded that most participants have a positive perception of the role of FM, similar to the views of the senior staff in the discipline itself. The concerns from most participants are in the area of preventative medicine, which has not been given enough priority in South Africa and where doctors are expected to rapidly attend to long queues and manage casualties. There was also concern of a perceived lack of surgical skills.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5034doctors’ perceptions towards family medicinecommunity health servicesprimary healthcare professionalsdoctors’ misconceptions of family medicinefamily medicine |
| spellingShingle | Christian N. Saidiya Gert J.O. Marincowitz Doudou K. Nzaumvila Tombo Bongongo Indiran Govender The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative study South African Family Practice doctors’ perceptions towards family medicine community health services primary healthcare professionals doctors’ misconceptions of family medicine family medicine |
| title | The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative study |
| title_full | The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative study |
| title_short | The attitude and perceptions of doctors at Letaba Hospital towards family medicine: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | attitude and perceptions of doctors at letaba hospital towards family medicine a qualitative study |
| topic | doctors’ perceptions towards family medicine community health services primary healthcare professionals doctors’ misconceptions of family medicine family medicine |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5034 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christiannsaidiya theattitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT gertjomarincowitz theattitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT doudouknzaumvila theattitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT tombobongongo theattitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT indirangovender theattitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT christiannsaidiya attitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT gertjomarincowitz attitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT doudouknzaumvila attitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT tombobongongo attitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy AT indirangovender attitudeandperceptionsofdoctorsatletabahospitaltowardsfamilymedicineaqualitativestudy |